Summary

Plot

The Environmental Detection guys aren't as they seemed. They want to collect evidence to try and implicate Tom in some sort of scandal. When they can't find real evidence, they make it up!

Along the way, it's revealed that Glossman is not acting on his own but is on orders from a mysterious person "higher up." Despite Glossman's best efforts, Tom clears his name and wins the election. But even as Tom celebrates his victory, Glossman vows that Odyssey hasn't seen the last of him or his mysterious boss.

Walker Edmiston plays both Bart Rathbone and Tom Riley, so he was actually debating himself in this episode. According to Dave Arnold, Walker was so talented at switching voices and personalities that hardly any post-production editing was needed for the debate.

Tom's fuss in this episode over makeup for the televised debate may have been a sly reference to the 1960 Presidential debate, where Nixon didn't wear makeup — much to his detriment, as he lost the election to JFK.

Eugene and Sam discuss the events of #202: “Timmy's Cabin” in this episode while musing about Glossman's motivation for harrassing Tom over the years.

Goofs

Listen carefully: sheep and cows can be heard in the background during Tom's radio interview after his exoneration. Tom has had horses on his farm for years but has never been known to keep sheep or cows.

Quotes

Jack Allen: Bart, we can't continue this debate unless you follow the rules.Bart Rathbone: Rules, schmules! This is a free country. Anybody should be able to do what they want! That's the difference between me and Riley. I'm into freedom and he's a, whaddayacall, an intolerant hatemonger.Tom Riley: What?Bart Rathbone: Did I stutter?Jack Allen: Gentlemen, please.Bryan Dern: Nah, let em go! This is getting good!Bart Rathbone: Unlike you, Riley, I believe in toleration. And as mayor, I won't put up with anybody who isn't tolerant!Tom Riley: You won't tolerate intolerance?Bart Rathbone: Right.Tom Riley: So you're intolerant of people who tolerate intolerance.Bart Rathbone: Yeah! My first act as mayor will be to form a committee to investigate intolerance and stamp it out!Tom Riley: But what about things like free speech?Bart Rathbone: What about things like that? People can have free speech.Tom Riley: As long as they agree with you.Bart Rathbone: Well, yeah. Nobody likes disagreeable people.Philip Glossman: Okay, Riley. You go ahead and move yourself into your mayor's office. But you don't have the slightest idea what you've gotten yourself into. You haven't seen the last of us—not by a long shot.Jack Allen: My name is Jack Allen, and by a sudden lapse of reason, I was the one both candidates agreed should moderate tonight’s debate.Bart Rathbone: We're supposed to start in a minute and I just thought I'd peek in and... you know, say something clever!Bernard Walton: Like what, Bart?Bart Rathbone: I dunno... ah, I couldn't think of anything. So how about, "may the best man win."Bernard Walton: Thanks, Bart.Tom Riley: Thank you, Bart.Bart Rathbone: Course that means you may as well call it quits now, if ya get my drift!Bernard Walton: Get out, Bart.Sam Johnson: We recorded a tape of the agents confessing that they rigged the test results!Philip Glossman: Excuse me! Ah, hold on, hold on. Philip Glossman here. On behalf of the state government, I demand that you give me that tape.Eugene Meltsner: With all due respect, Mr. Glossman... we'd rather make two dozen copies, and then give you the tape!Sam Johnson: You think Mr. Riley will lose the election over this?Eugene Meltsner: I'm afraid he'll lose more than the election, Sam.Burt Ferder: Get 'em, Frank!Frank Ernest: Stop in the name of the environment!